Pigging

Pigging cleans pipelines and ducts in processing plants, including food factories, by driving a tight-fitting flexible device called a pig, such as a brush, blade, or swab, through the line to scrape or push out leftover product. In food manufacturing it recovers valuable product, cuts water and chemical use during changeovers, and readies lines for sanitation. Dairy, sauce, beverage, and confectionery plants handling liquids or viscous streams rely on it heavily. Effective programs define pig design, launching and receiving procedures, and verification checks. Beyond efficiency, pigging supports hygiene by removing residues where microbes could otherwise thrive.